British India @ Fitzy’s Loganholme 18/09

It was pretty easy to tell before the first band even walked onstage that the show was going to be rife with sound problems. Not long after doors opened backing music was played at ear blistering decibels and then muted, and then pumped right back up again seconds later. The sound check was quick, to say the least. By the time Buick 6 took the stage, it was mostly a distorted mess. The three piece trudged through it though, and some of the sound problems were eventually sorted out. Playing some great classic rock tunes, Buick 6 set a good mood for the venue, with the small beginnings of a crowd thoroughly enjoying the set and rewarding lead singer John Ryan with high fives. While the set was a good listen, the best moments were when the band seemed like they were just jamming. It’s a shame that sound problems hindered what could have potentially been a really great set.

Next up were the Blood Poets, who have been touring around with British India for the better part of this year. They opened the set with their single ‘Borderline’ and once again, the sound problems were back, with the guitars barely audible. It didn’t hold back the band as much as it did Buick 6, but definitely did have an impact on the songs. The band remained confident though, keeping up their entertaining banter and confident stage presence as they worked their way through their power pop set consisting mostly of material from their first album, with a few states from their upcoming release. ‘U82 (We’ll Find a Way)’ and ‘Just in Time’ were highlights, getting the crowd dancing along. The dual vocals between Tom Murphy and Bec Plath on latest single ‘Dance’ finished the set on a high note. The band was sure to win some new fans over with that performance.

The small venue was packed out by the time British India took the stage, and thankfully all sounds problems were long gone. It was immediately obvious that British India are a very different band live than they are on record. Raw, energetic and grungy, they played an even mix between their three studio albums. Singer Declan Melia happily announced each song from Guillotine, beginning with ‘Tie Up My Hands’ and ‘Run the Red Light’. ‘Vanilla’ and ‘I Said I’m Sorry’ brought about sing-alongs and a massive roar from the crowd that would make you think that you were in a much larger venue. The energy and enthusiasm matched the crowd’s, with drummer Matt O’Gorman knocking over his floor tom several times and the stage seemed too small for the boys in front as they were constantly knocking into each other. But these moments helped to give the show a rawer, more personal feel. A surprise cover of the Beastie Boys’ ‘Fight for your Right’ was easily the highlight of the set, and the night ended with ‘This Ain’t No Fucking Disco’, which seemed appropriate since there were a few disco balls hanging around the venue. There was no encore, but there really wasn’t any need for one either, with the crowd being left thoroughly impressed with the performance they just witnessed.